I feel like my updating dates are off now ;) Plot reveal next chapter? Hmmmm, maybe. Thank you all for the support and enjoy the latest chapter!

D~a~y~~1~1~0 ~~2

The next hour was crammed with nothing but uncomfortable glances and an occasional caring squeeze from his sister's hand. Danny had refused to sit beside Vlad, instead sitting cross legged in the living room floor across the table. Every once in a while he would catch the older man giving him calculating looks, like Vlad knew something he did not. He tried his best to completely ignore him and rather gazed at items that wouldn't matter any other day. Least to say that it was extremely awkward to have your arch rival barely two feet away.

However, Danny still wasn't sure what this guy was trying to pull. Vlad had vowed to get revenge against Jack Fenton for hospitalizing him and ruining his life, although has yet to succeed in doing so. Then sabotaged he and his mother's plane over Wisconsin once for a chance to convince them to stay with him and abandon Jack. When that had failed, Vlad released the almighty ghost King Pariah Dark and jeopardized Amity Park. Except, instead of leaving Phantom to die or exposing who he really was to everyone in his unconscious state, Vlad had saved Danny in the aftermath. This created his uncertainty towards the man in front of him at this very moment.

Was he planning payback for all that's happened? He was tentative of what may lay before him. Danny could practically feel the tense air surrounding all three of them. 'Come on Tucker...Sam. Where are you guys at?' he thought urgently, secretly hoping they would somehow hear him. Maybe they were walking his street right now, slowly making their way around the bend of the sidewalk in which his house came into clear view. Tucker was telling her about a joke the comedy channel had aired and unintentionally forgot the hilarious punch line. She rolls her purple eyes, obviously not amused at all. Together, they ascend the stone steps and are about to knock...

"How have you been fairing, Danny?" When suddenly the frootloop smashes his nice fantasy with a mallet "I've heard that it's been quite the adventure." Vlad straightened his back, never taking his blue orbs off him.

How dare he even call this an adventure! Danny's literally been to hell and back, yet Vlad refers to this as a sort of pleasant journey. Does he not understand exactly how much it ached to be unable to speak? Until two days ago, he was totally convinced that he would be doomed to a life of silence. People around him could speak freely while he had to write every single word down just to be acknowledged. He had never comprehended exactly how precious life was till reality had slapped him in the face and really forced him to change. No average fourteen year old should suffer through such an immense amount of pain and sadness.

Unfortunately, Danny wasn't a normal teenager. Common sense told him that Vlad was playing at his emotions. The main question is, why? He decided that it would be best to just not reply at all. His brows furrowed in anger, hand violently shaking as he grasped the mechanical pencil, never fully meeting Vlad's eyes. The ghost part of him wanted to break out and throw a huge glob of green ectoplasm at the man, in it's place was a broken boy attempting to control his unlimited rage.

'Don't let him get to you.'

Vlad continued picking deeper into an already large wound "Honestly, what's the trouble? I just asked you a question."

At last, Jazz whispered two simple words "He's sad."

"Oh?" He leaned forward on his elbows in interest, hands clutched in a fist under his chin "Why is this?"

Danny's sister fixed him in a fierce glare, as if she thought Vlad was unbelievable "Because he's being forced to leave!" Jazz nearly screamed "Why else would he be?" Apparently she wasn't the only one hiding her fury. Vlad seemed somewhat perturbed by her abrupt outburst, his smile widening impossibly further. He was about to respond when there were a few knocks on the front door. Danny immediately jumped up and eagerly opened it to reveal his two best friends.

Tucker grinned at him, trying to hide his gloom "Hey, dude. Sam told me what was going on." he gave Danny a quick knuckle punch before entering. Sam trailed in behind him and took off her shoes in abnormal quietness. He showed them his appreciation by also smiling, holding back the urge to throw his arms around them in a tight hug. Finally they had taken in Vlad's early presence, their faces going dark.

"Hey, Mr. Masters." Sam stumbled over her words "W-What are you doing here?"

Vlad seemed to be intrigued by this whole situation "Of course, I'm here to retrieve young Daniel. Actually," remembrance crossed over his features "Have you put together your bags? We must get going soon."

The goth girl standing beside him desperately held back a sob and folded her thin arms across her torso. Now they were all frowning, a dreary atmosphere replacing the short lived happiness. Danny's heart sank, hot bile tickling the back of his throat as he instantly became sick. Tears threatened to topple over the feeble flood gates built in his eyes. But...he didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay here where people would be there for him no matter what. Where things may not be completely okay, however looked familiar to him and resembled his old life that was lost. None of these comforting qualities awaited him at Vlad's mansion all the way in Wisconsin.

He couldn't stay either. Danny had no other choice but to go with his enemy. The reason? Because he figured that's what his mom and dad wanted. They wished to wake up one day with no problems on their mind and be able to gradually diminish the guilt burdening their breaking hearts. He knew inside that going with Vlad is what they needed for their troubled minds. Jack and Maddie would surely mend overtime and come to a decision of whether they wanted to reclaim their son or not. Danny was absolutely positive on this, regardless of what may happen to him while he's away.

Begrudgingly, he began to write upon the paper. His friends and sister all struggled to peer over his shoulders and get a peek at his response. When they finally did, he could have sworn everyone had tears running down their forlorn faces. Danny approached Vlad with a heavy heart and handed him the paper in surrender 'Fine.'

An arrogant smirk graced his features "I'll wait for you down here."

Danny ascended the stairs one step at a time. When Sam had begun to follow behind him, he had held up his hand and slightly shaken his head. He wasn't certain if he could still go on if they had followed him. More than likely, he would have ended up bawling along with the rest of them. The notepad hung loosely in his hand, Danny's head reeling at a million miles an hour while he pondered if this was the right thing to do. 'Of course it is!' he thought scornfully 'I'm doing this for mom and dad. Not Vlad, them. I just want them to be happy again.'

There was little to pack. He didn't doubt that Vlad was already well prepared and had a room ready for him at his mansion. The man had always bewildered him with how much wealth he really owned but refused to tell. Danny took his time, not even caring that Vlad might be late or taking a second to ponder if it was a white lie to rush him out. A worn brown suitcase sat on his bed, filled with necessary clothing that he wore each day and a few pencils in case the one he is currently using broke. He stuck with the only yellow notebook he had carried since returning home that sat near the case.

Before he could close the suitcase, a picture caught his eye. Danny made his way over to the dresser on the other side of the room and picked up a rectangular frame made of wood. What it held within the glass made tears come over his cheeks at last. All four of the Fenton's were present in the photo on the left, with Jack protectively standing over them and their red brick house proudly in the background. Sam and Tucker were standing to the right with Danny himself leaning with his arms across his chest in the middle. The one detail that shocked him the most was that they were all smiling. A real teeth showing, eye twinkling smile. He was definitely taking this with him. It reminded Danny of a portal to the past, only that he wasn't able to just reach in and drag their joy back out to the present.

When everything was ready, he made sure to shut the bathroom door and hide the broken glass scattered amongst the tiles. Danny looked at his room for one more minute, not even out the front door and already homesick. He then saw his parents door and wondered if he should tell them he was leaving or not. 'No, they want to forget-' he trailed off 'They want to forget me.' Danny had to come to terms with this. There was no reason to be mad at them any more, for deep inside he understood that they're trying the best they can. It's his fault any of this occurred in the first place.

Jazz, Sam, and even Tucker crowded the lower part of the stairs crying. They all gazed up when Danny began to trudge down, light suitcase in one hand and notebook in the other. Vlad stood expectantly by the door with the knowledge that he had won. Unlike the others, no more tears made their salty paths down his face. Instead, he felt nothing but dread as Danny let himself be hugged by the people he truly loved. No more sorrow, just pain and the sore weight that he was to blame for their sadness. He hated that he could never forgive himself for letting this happen.

Only Vlad spoke through the silence "I've got your bag, little badger." he had taken away Danny's suitcase and opened the front door "Come on, now."

Sam threw her arms around Danny's neck in a last goodbye, slightly surprising him "Please, come back." she whispered in his ear.

To respond, he took the time to retrieve his pencil and write a short note despite Vlad's anxiously tapping foot 'I promise to.' Danny attempted to give her a reassuring smile before the older man's patience worn out and he placed a hand on his back. Vlad ushered Danny past the door frame and into the yard, where a sleek black limousine was awaiting them at the edge of the sidewalk. It had a long body with at least three tinted windows and silver chrome outlining the front. The owner let go of him and opened the back door, revealing smooth brown leather caressing all the chairs.

Although it was unusually sunny out and quite warm, Danny felt cold. Is today the beginning of a weekend? He knew it was day 110, though other than that he wasn't sure. If so, then he and the others would be out about the town hanging out at the nearby park or spending their money to watch a ridiculous movie right now. Maybe they'd be planning to go ghost hunting tonight. Either way, they enjoyed themselves doing these things. It made them...happy. What would he do without the joy of his friends? Since Jazz just recently found out that he's also Phantom, would she have assisted him in catching the ghosts too? A jolt of regret shot through his heart in realization. Now that he was leaving, they would never be able to do any of those things together again.

He could clearly hear the cries of his loved ones behind him, however did not look back 'I have to stay strong.' Danny finally faced the open limousine door that Vlad held for him. Hesitation made him pause, understanding that once he got in this vehicle, there was absolutely no turning back. In one swift move he had entered and sat down in the comfy seats. The door slammed shut and somehow managed to increase his hectic nerves. Another sound indicated that Vlad had just taken his position in the driver's seat.

The limousine started, it's engine's vibration stemming to every part of it until it died down to a low rumble. Danny risked looking out the dark windows once and immediately wished he hadn't. Tucker and Jazz stood in the door frame while Sam was farther out in the front yard with sobs wracking her body. Too soon they began to fade away, smaller and smaller each of them became as Vlad drove farther away. At last there was nothing left of them. He continued to stare out the window in a vain hope that they'd all reappear somewhere to wave goodbye. Buildings passed by in a blur and various citizens roamed the streets with a carefree feeling in their hearts. Once again, Danny found himself uncertain of his future.